Can I Call You Joe?

When the Sunday morning spin doctors sliced and diced the presidential race they neglected one factor - movies.

Among the as many as seven movies that opened in some markets last week, were diametrically opposed political films; David Zucker's "An American Carol" on the right and Bill Maher's "Religulous" on the left.

And in the first week of competition Zucker's comic spoof of liberal politics barely edged out Maher's personal documentary about faith - he's got doubts - and religion - he's against it, according to Variety.

Both, however, were dwarfed by "Bevery Hills Chihuahua," which earned $29 million and was, inexplicably, the top ranked film of the weekend.

"Eagle Eye," with $17.7 million was ranked second; “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” with $12 million, came in third; "Nights In Rodanthe," fourth, with $7.3 million; and “Appaloosa,” fifth with $5 million.

"An American Carol," was the 9th ranked film, earning $.3.8 million. "Religulous," earned $3.5 million but its per theater average of $6,972 second highest of the weekend, behind "Chihuahua's" $9,020. Watch the two films' trailers, here.

"American Carol" was funded in part by Beloit resident Diane Kendricks and her late husband Ken Hendricks.

Variety wrote that the two films' box office results "reveal the country's political divide. 'Religulous' played strongest on bigger cities on the two coasts, while 'American Carol' played best in the Midwest and Bible belt."

But the most entertaining political commentary of the weekend by a long shot again came from the "Saturday Night Live" vice-presidential debate sketch, with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Jason Sudekis as Joe Biden.